Miami Dolphins Sign C.J. Anderson To An Offer Sheet

The Broncos may have made a mistake tendering C.J. Anderson at the lowest level.

John Elway didn't make a mistake letting Malik Jackson sign with Jacksonville for $90 million. Elway was justified in letting Danny Trevathan walk, considering the Broncos cap space and Trevathan's injury history.

Even allowing Brock Osweiler to defect to Houston was understandable. Elway remained disciplined in his negotiations with Jackson and Osweiler and the Broncos will be better for it.

But I have a hard time wrapping my brain around how Elway handled the C.J. Anderson situation. As a restricted free agent, Elway had several options by which he could tender Anderson and virtually guarantee to keep him in Denver, while not paying him a ton of money.

Instead of tendering Anderson at say a second round level, Elway chose the lowest, which gives the Broncos only the right to match any competing offers, nothing more. It would pay Anderson $1.671 million for 2016.

Linebacker Brandon Marshall, tendered at the second round level, would come with compensation if another team offered him a contract the Broncos were unwilling to match. Marshall's tender will pay him $2.553 million. The competing team would have to relinquish a second round pick to the Broncos if they signed Marshall.

Not so with Anderson. And now because they wanted to save about 900K, the Broncos might lose yet another key player from their Super Bowl run. Anderson is garnering interest in the RFA market and has a visit to Miami planned Thursday.

The Patriots, Bears and 49ers are also interested in the 2014 Pro Bowler. With this much competition, you can bet that one team will make an offer on Anderson that will exceed what the Broncos are likely willing to match.

Update

Say goodbye to C.J. Anderson. The Dolphins have signed him to a front-loaded offer sheet. Don't expect the Broncos to match. They will get five days to decide, however.